1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Coupe by De Villars

Although founded in 1925 in the Parisian suburb of Courbevoie, Carrosserie de Villars was financed by a wealthy American, Jason Gould, who owned numerous businesses and properties in France. Roland de Graffenried de Villars headed the company in its early days, when its main activity was looking after cars owned by Gould and his associates. Perhaps not surprisingly, De Villars favoured American styling, with long wheelbase chassis preferred. Quality marques were the order of the day, with notable De Villars creations appearing on Delage, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes-Benz, Minerva, Renault and, of course, Bentley chassis. Bodies were made in small numbers, approximately 25 per year, and most were unique, like the one fitted to Bentley chassis number 'B-8-MR', which was supplied new to the De Villars coachworks in 1938.

During the 1938 Paris Auto Salon, whilst finished in dark green with green hide, the Bentley was purchased off the stand by a French Army General, who later worked for the French Resistance during the war.

The story of this stunning thirties Bentley continues in post-war USA, when in 1955 the car came into the possession of Robert Denning of New York, who owned the car for a period before selling it to Dominic Cappellis of North Carolina in 1975. The car stayed with the Cappellis for a long time and was entrusted to John Griffin of Montgomery, Alabama in 1989 for a full restoration to the tune of $50,000 USD.

In 2002 this important, and possibly unique, De Villars bodied Bentley, was repatriated back to the UK by the Real Car Company and has remained in the proud ownership of a handful of Europeans ever since. Acquired by our vendor in 2011, he then decided to instruct Michael Hibberd, the respected Berkshire, Rolls-Royce and Bentley Specialist to completely restore this 4 ¼ Litre Bentley, remove its rather funereal coat of black and paint the car in the very Parisienne shades of Blue and Grey you see now. Iced with glistening chrome the result is a real showstopper, its swoopy curves being reminiscent of Figoni et Falaschi, a few styling cues from Detroit and a boot that is pure Bentley. The interior is an irreverent combination of Bentley controls and instruments and Cocktail Lounge seating and fabrics. Trying to photograph the car in a quiet London Mews became a two hour job as we discussed the car and its history with many a passer-by. It seems that even some 75 years after it was created, this Bentley is able to catch the imagination of even the most passive motor enthusiast.As impressive as the result is from the kerb, the same can be said for the underside and the structural integrity of the car which appears sound. The car runs beautifully and drives as you would expect a pre-war Bentley to drive. Everything is there, even a properly stocked boot-mounted tool kit.The history file is bulging with early correspondence between past owners, Bentley clubs, historians, specialists and the like. There are even some charming black and white pictures of the car on display at the Paris Salon in 1938. Potential purchasers are welcome to have a good look at this car's history.As the only known surviving De Villars bodied Bentley, this is a serious car. A wonderful combination of British engineering, French Carrosserie and a little American pazaz.